O'Malley Sharpens Rhetoric In Duel With Texas Gov.

WBAL's Steve Fermier reports on Gov. O'Malley's response to the campaign by the Texas governor to attract business to the Lone Star state Download This File

Gov. O'Malley has fired back at his counterpart from the Lone Star state over some unflattering ads going on the air about Maryland's business climate.

Gov. O'Malley chose a state Democratic party event last night in Greenbelt to respond to news that the Texas governor is heading to Maryland soon and stars in a series of radio and TV ads claiming his state has a better business climate...with a play on the Free State motto calling Maryland the "fee state."

O'Malley said last night, "I know from past experience that the gentleman is all hat and no cattle."

O'Malley recalled a debate in 2011 with his Republican counterpart when the two represented their governor's associations, and sharpened his rhetoric a bit, "I kicked his ass and he never came back again."

O'Malley recited ways at the Democratic dinner speech how Maryland comes out ahead, including higher income and lower poverty rates.

WBAL News attempted repeatedly on Thursday to have Gov. O'Malley respond to the ad campaign by Gov. Perry, but his office declined to make him available to us.

O'Malley is heading to Texas soon to stump for candidates there.

Gov. Perry is "coming back," due in Maryland next week as part of the economic campaign to tempt businesses to move to Texas.